Punished for four weeks after 2 years waiting

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 08/09/2007 12:56 PM  |  Opinion

We regret to inform your readers that 20-year-old Indonesian domestic worker Marliyah, who was reported to be repatriated after two years being sheltered by the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economy (HOME), has been convicted of theft and imprisoned for four weeks by the district court judges.

The verdict came within days of our letter to the Straits Times on July 14.

Previously, Sisi Sukianto of HOME had confirmed that police officer IO Reswan had been told to arrange Marliyah's repatriation because her case was concluded.

Therefore, we and HOME were shocked when Marliyah was called to the police station and a confession was extracted from her within 28 hours. She was then charged and convicted without any opportunity to seek the assistance of our embassy and HOME.

We suggest that the case of Marliyah is a typical the legal experience of migrant domestic workers, who have to wait for a long time before trial.

The only wish of Marliyah now is to return home to get on with her life after two years of limbo.

RAHAYU GABRELLE
Chairman
Solidaritas Migran Scalabrini
Batam, Riau Islands

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.